October 2, 2015

Keeping it Real: Onward and Upward

As you may have noticed Katie and I have been busy lately, and unfortunately that means that C&C has gone to the bottom of the priority list. While I would love to post everyday, I've come to terms with the fact that I (we) will write when we can and hopefully all of you, our readers, understand that.

I've had a lot of changes in my life the last month. We returned from our trip to Europe, I started a new consulting job, and the Mini Fashionista started full-time school. These are her "first day of school" photos from the last three years.  Can you believe what a difference a year makes?

So, like I said, I've had a lot of changes in my life in the last month. Probably the biggest change being my "retirement" from Barre3. During the last six months I've been dealing with a variety of injuries, including sciatica and a torn meniscus. I've spent a lot of time feeling conflicted and overwhelmed by the reality that my body is not standing up to the repetition of teaching and taking barre3 on a weekly basis. I think have been in denial about the overall state of my body for a while now. The bottom line is that it can't handle any high level of repetition, be that from barre3, cycling, cross country skiing, etc. (Melissa, if you're reading....I finally get it...as much as I hate to accept it).

I worry about the longevity of my body given all of my injuries at such a young age. I don’t want to do any permanent damage that would prevent me from living the athletic life that fuels my body and soul and really is at the core of my existence. So after some soul searching on my trip to Europe, I decided that I needed to focus on my own health and well being. It was a really hard decision, but it was the right one.

I team taught my last class a few weeks ago with my dear friend Bonney, who was the first person I reached out to about becoming an instructor 4 years ago. I was overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the other instructors and clients, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end it. 

My dear friend Jennifer gave me this water bottle for my birthday not long after my last class, and it is probably one of my most favorite gifts ever.

Not only do I love a fun water bottle to encourage proper hydration, but the message seemed so timely and poignant (my friends know me well). 

Barre3 has influenced me and changed me more in the last 5 years than any other one single thing in my life. It has provided me with an incredible community of friends, some that have become like family. It has brought me more awareness about my own body and health than my undergraduate and masters degrees in physiology. It has offered me the opportunity to connect with and educate people about their bodies through my classes and online workouts. And above all else it has taught me the importance of honoring my body and striving for balance in everything that I do. So, it's time to do that, to practice what I teach. It's hard to walk away from something so powerful, but I know that Barre3 will be in my life in some capacity for many years to come. 

One of my favorite quotes is "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." 

It's easy to have regrets, but I know that great things are waiting for me....Onward & Upward. 

5 comments:

  1. Sometimes NOT doing barre3 is barre3, NOT exercising is exercising, NOT doing is DOING. I really believe that exercise is not the answer. More important is what we learn while moving and how that informs the other choices we make in our lives. This is when true transformation happens. Your choice to "retire" is probably your best teaching moment yet. Honoring your truth and walking the talk. I am so honored to know you and for the record, you haven't retired. You have just started. I love all of you --inlcuding your torn meniscus. XO, Sadie

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  2. I love and echo Sadie's comment. I wish I'd been able to attend your last class, and I hope that we won't stop seeing each other.

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    1. thank you! If I knew who wrote this, I am certain I hope we keep seeing each other! :)

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